For many reasons, spring's a good time to plant a tree

Spring is here with April close on its heels, bringing Arbor Day and Earth Day along to flaunt in our faces.

Not that we mind.

And certainly, gardeners and other plant lovers hardly need the excuse to do anything horticultural, botanical, environmental or otherwise. But those earth-friendly holidays do serve as good reminders and provide an opportunity for me to pretend to know what I’m writing about.

With Arbor Day (April 11) and Earth Day (April 22) approaching, April is a wonderful time to plant a tree. Do not wait too much longer, though. The more time a newly planted tree has to grow roots before the dry summer heat, the better its survival chances will be.

Before you rush out to the nursery for that new tree, take the time to record some notes. A little pre-purchase planning will help you make just the right tree selection. With this information, you can peruse your preferred garden book or consult the wonderfully knowledgeable people at your local nursery to find that perfect tree.

The No. 1 question to ask yourself is “what purpose will the tree serve for you?” Do you want it for shade? A tree with a wide crown may be preferable. Maybe flowers are your goal? Flowering cherries or magnolias will fit the bill better than a conifer. It is common for families to plant trees for new babies or to remember a loved one. If so, a longer-lived oak tree would be a better choice than a shorter-lived willow. Let the nursery worker or master gardener helping you know so they can advise you properly.

Next, before heading to the nursery, determine where you want the tree. It is always better to find the place for a tree first than to purchase one and hope you can make it fit into your yard. Make note of the dimensions of the location and select a tree that will fit when mature with minimal pruning.

Also, observe other site features. Will the tree be blocking a window’s view? Will it be too close to your septic system? Some trees planted too close to a paved driveway may damage the surface after several years of growth. How much sun does the location get at different times of the day? Many factors affect how the tree will survive and if it will be a blessing or an unintended nuisance.

Once you have a tree, consider how it will interact with other plants in your yard. Will it play nice or will its eventual size shade or crowd out existing plants? If so, is that OK with you? It all depends on what your goals are for your garden. To help the nursery worker assisting you, take some pictures of the proposed planting site. They may be able to help predict your garden’s future after introducing the new tree.

Proper planning is as important as proper care after planting a new tree. That is the purpose behind the gardener’s mantra of “Right plant, right place.” If a tree won’t be happy where you put it, there is not much you can do after planting to change its mind.

Besides planting a tree for April’s earth-friendly holidays, there are other things to do, too. Check for local Earth Day and Arbor Day events on the Internet. It is not too hard to find presentations and walking tours. And work parties abound for those wanting to give something back.

Bainbridge Island has a truly impressive array of Arbor Day and Earth Day activities throughout April. Events include work parties, nature tours, wine tastings and presentations. For a complete list of activities, visit www.sustainablebainbridge.org.

For those phytophiles (obsessive plant lovers), the Master Gardener Foundation of Kitsap County seminar series continues on April 11 (Arbor Day!) with “The Container Revolution,” a presentation by Kathy Hawkins and Arlene West of Floral & Foliage. They will help you take your container gardens from “ordinary” to “fabulous!” For more information, visit www.kitsapgardens.org/events.

Darren can be found at the Bloedel Reserve rating trees for afternoon napping suitability. When not sleeping on the job, he can be reached at pnwbotany@gmail.com.

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